No abstract

Somalia is experiencing growth in its graduate labor force, but graduate unemployment is rising with the overall unemployment rate. This study explored the causal factors of graduate unemployment as well as its socio-economic consequences and possible solutions. The study applied quantitative research method, data was collected from 216 respondents who consisted of unemployed graduates, recently employed graduates, graduate recruitment managers, administration of local universities and government officials through a self-administered questionnaire structured in line with the modified Likert scale. The respondents were selected using purposive and convenient sampling techniques. The data were analyzed using descriptive statisitics while univariate and multivariate logistic regression were applied to determine the association between demographic features of respondents and graduate unemployment. The majority of the participants were male (59.3%) who 81.5% of them were single, and mostly graduated from the local institutions (77.8%). Unemployment was high among the females, diploma holders and science graduates. The study identified a blend of causal factors to be responsible for the heightenedprevalence of graduate unemployment in Somalia which include poor political governance, inadequate developmental skills, corruption, sub-optimal quality of graduates, and low level of English proficiency. It also pointed out that the socio-economic repercussions of graduate unemployment on the society and affected individuals were outrageous. As it economically erodes human capital, it also escalates violence, crime, drug abuse and political instability. The study suggests that the education sector urgently requires continued emphasis on demand driven skills and that learners should be adequately prepared for entry into the labor market; that greater efforts be made to encourage learners and government to promote entrepreneurship, and investment in agricultural and livestock sector.